BJP should set its own house in order before pointing fingers at Congress over Bofors: Sibal

New Delhi,
Fri, 27 Apr 2012ANI

New Delhi, Apr 27 (ANI): Union Minister Kapil Sibal on Friday asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to set its own house in order first, instead of taking fresh potshots at the Congress Party over the latest revelations connected to the Bofors Gun scam.

Speaking after a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court had convicted former BJP president Bangaru Laxman under the Prevention of Corruption Act in connection with a 2001 Tehelka sting related to a fake arms deal, Sibal, who is the Human Resource Development and Telecom Minister, said people acting behind the scenes in the fake arms deal case should also be probed.

"Bangaru Laxman had to be convicted, as it was very clear from the video evidence, which the people of the country saw. But the people responsible behind this episode, a probe against them should be conducted and for which Jaswant Singh should have demanded for setting up a judicial commission in the Parliament," said Sibal.

"Then I would have believed the truth that BJP's character and conduct is clean. But when raising a 25 year old issus which is not true and hide the truth and not demand the right thing the Lok Sabha it clearly indicates BJP's dual political character," he added.

Laxman was convicted on Friday under the Prevention of Corruption Act in connection with a 2001 Tehelka sting related to a fake arms deal.

A special pecial Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court convicted Bangaru Laxman and announced that sentencing would take place on Saturday.

The CBI had alleged that Laxman accepted Rs 1 lakh from the representatives of a fictitious UK-based company West End International on January 1, 2001, at his office for pursuing their proposal to supply certain products to the army.

Laxman was booked under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act. His former personal secretary T Satyamurthy, who was a co-accused, was granted pardon by a trial court after he turned approver in the case. (ANI)